Japan has not seen one of its athletics competitors on the top step of the podium since the 2004 Olympics in Athens, when Mizuki Noguchi ran to a win on the historic marathon course and Koji Murofushi took the Olympic title in the hammer.
Since then, pickings have been slim in track and field and all indications are that the struggle will continue for Japan at Rio 2016.
Japan will have a number of outside athletics medal chances in the Rio de Janiero sun, with the best hope likely Kayoko Fukushi in the women's marathon.